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In this episode, we perceive a portrait of a maiden, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 339, penned by an anonymous poet. Set in the category of ‘Kaanji Thinai’ or ‘Defence’, the verse talks about the looming possibility of a war.
வியன் புலம் படர்ந்த பல் ஆ நெடு ஏறு
மடலை மாண் நிழல் அசைவிட, கோவலர்
வீ ததை முல்லைப் பூப் பறிக்குந்து;
குறுங் கோல் எறிந்த நெடுஞ் செவிக் குறு முயல்
நெடு நீர்ப் பரப்பின் வாளையொடு உகளுந்து;
தொடலை அல்குல் தொடித் தோள் மகளிர்
கடல் ஆடிக் கயம் பாய்ந்து,
கழி நெய்தல் பூக்குறூஉந்து;
பைந் தழை துயல்வரும் செறு …………..
……………………………………………………
வளர வேண்டும், அவளே, என்றும்
ஆர் அமர் உழப்பதும் அமரியளாகி,
முறம் செவி யானை வேந்தர்
மறம் கெழு நெஞ்சம் கொண்டு ஒளித்தோளே.
A few lines are missing in this verse but we can infer that it is firmly situated in this series of songs involving a maiden being the cause of a war. The poet’s words can be translated as follows:
“Across the wide-spreading forest land, grazes the huge bull and its many cows and chews cud in the glorious shade of trees with flowers. Here, cowherds pluck clusters of jasmine flowers. The sticks they throw startles a huge-eared small hare and makes it leap, akin to the scabbard fish in the vast waters; Maiden, wearing garlands around their waists and bangles on their arms, play in the ocean, leap into ponds and pluck blue lilies from backwaters; As their leaf ornaments sway, in the fields… She must grow indeed! As if desiring fierce battles on her behalf, she hides away brave hearts of those victorious kings on elephants with winnow-shaped ears!”
Time to explore the details presented. The poet starts by sketching the rolling pastures in a forest landscape and here we see bulls and cows relishing the grass and chewing it in the shade of flower-filled trees. The cowherd, who has brought this herd here, desiring to pluck wild jasmine flowers, throws a stick at the bush. A hare that was hiding there is startled and leaps about just like a scabbard fish in the sea, the poet relates. Now, taking the connecting element of the sea, the poet points to how girls wearing garlands and bangles are playing in that sea. After which, they leap into ponds to pluck blue lilies that abound there. A few lines that follow these words are missing but we can infer that it will connect this prosperous and idyllic place to the lady being described. The poet continues saying that the lady must mature and turn to wisdom, talking about how now she seems to desire battles fought on her behalf, and towards that end, she goes about stealing hearts of brave kings with powerful battle elephants!
Through these words, the poet seems to transferring the blame on the lady for having inspired so much devotion in those kings that they are ready to wage war for her. Yet again, the verse throws light on how finding the right queen was foremost in the minds of those kings, something which surprisingly reminds me of the game of chess. With a powerful queen on his side, isn’t that king on that board unconquerable? Perhaps, it’s the same reasoning running in the minds of these Sangam kings!
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